Memories of First Darshan

My Diary-Leaves

1928

August 13

Recently S. Doraiswamy gave a copy of Uma Sahasram for Sri Aurobindo's perusal who seemed to have deeply appreciated it. And the Mother expressed on her own: "If Ganapati Sastri is inclined to come for the August 15th Darshan he is welcome." It was communicated to Nayana⁷ at Tiruvannamalai. Sri Ramana seems to have said 'When this suggestion by the Mother came unsought by Nayana, it must be a Daiva Sankalpam.'

August 15

Sri Aurobindo's birthday celebration in the Ashram — and all of us had the privilege of Darshan of the Mother and Sri Aurobindo. Nayana, though pessimistic at first, after he had the actual Darshan, expressed "O, divya murtulu — O, Divine Personalities!" so much so, he stayed on till September 1st.

August 16

Nayana's interview with the Mother for 30 minutes. They meditated together; Nayana felt spiritual current passing into him from all directions. Later on the Mother said to S. Doraiswamy: "He is the one man who immediately entered into my spiritual Consciousness and stuck to it to the end."

August 19

Nayana's second interview with the Mother for 45 minutes. He recited verses composed on the Mother. Talked of present Avatara. The Mother got into trance. Nayana perceived light passing through her toe and then a glowing halo around her entire being, the whole atmosphere surcharged with divine current.

- K. S. Venkataraman

(Breath of Grace, edited by M. P. Pandit, published by Dipti Publications, 2nd edition, 2002, pp. 343–44)